When the new Fox Sports New Orleans network televises the New Orleans Hornets’ regular-season opener Oct. 31 against the San Antonio Spurs, their broadcast team won’t include longtime play-by-play announcer Bob Licht or analyst Gil McGregor.

Both were told last week the franchise is moving in a new direction under owner Tom Benson and they’re not going to be retained.

Licht spent 16 seasons with the Hornets, serving the past seven as the team’s TV play-by-play announcer. McGregor was an original member of the Hornets’ broadcast team and had spent 24 seasons behind the microphone.

"When I look back on it, on everything, would I have liked to seen it end a little differently – most definitely,’’ said McGregor, who plans to return to Charlotte, N.C., where he still owns a home.

Licht could not be reached for comment.

A new cable television agreement between the Hornets and Fox Sports was reached in June after the team's contract ended with Cox Sports Television, which had televised Hornets games since the team relocated from Charlotte in 2002.

The changes in the Hornets’ television broadcast team appears to be one of many to come before the regular season begins. Hornets radio analyst Gerry Vaillancourt said he was told this past Friday the franchise was not retaining him although he had been a member on the Hornets’ broadcast team for the past 22 years.

"I’m going to sit tight for awhile and see if anything opens up in the market," Vaillancourt said. "I’ve done talk radio in town, I’m an NBA analysts and I’m still going to do my work for NOLA.com with my column and cover the NBA that way. So I’m still going to have a voice analyzing the team. They were very gracious and I got a great run out of this."

The Hornets announced last week that Times-Picayune columnist John DeShazier has been hired to become the team's radio analyst. Sean Kelley is remaining as the team's radio play-by-play man.

Also, sources say the Hornets are in the process of making staff changes in several departments on the team's business side, including the community relations, sponsorships and ticket sales departments.